By Simon Ebegbulem

Edo State House of Assembly has ordered contractors handling the Benin-Auchi road, Dantata and Sawoe and Mother Cat Nigeria Limited, to appear before it next Monday, to explain the reasons for the slow pace of work on the highway.

The Speaker of the House, Alhaji Kabiru Adjoto, warned that the House will explore its legislative powers to deal with any contractor who may have collected mobilization funds from the Federal Government for the job but failed to execute it.

The Speaker who described as an affront to the House, the alleged refusal of the companies to appear before it, last Monday, as ordered by the House, pointed out that contempt against the House was a serious offence, warning that the House will not succumb to any form of intimidation in its effort to alleviate the pains of the people of the state and other Nigerians along that road.

“The work is very slow and our people are suffering. We are aware that some contractors were given the job and have been mobilized yet nothing much is happening there. And that is why we will not tolerate any attempt by the contractors to take this House for granted. The money paid to them is public money therefore we must know why our people are still suffering along that road. And if they fail to appear before us next week we will take appropriate decision against them” he stated.

Meantime, the House has confirmed the appointment of Mr Usidamen Christian Ofeimu as the Auditor General of Local Governments in Edo state as requested by Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The House also granted approval to the governor’s request to obtain loan that will be used to purchase more buses for the Edo City Transport Company, which according to the House, will benefit the people of the state.